In our last issue of the year, instead of taking you through the same tired old statistics or extolling the virtues of Islamic issuance ad nauseam, we thought it might be more interesting to take you on a journey – an introduction,

Despite the economic headwinds, Sukuk performance for 2018 is looking positive, with Moody’s Investors Service in the third quarter (Q3) predicting global issuance to break the US$100 billion barrier, well in line with 2017 levels despite a challenging year for global markets.

Blockchain and smart contract protocols could change the global Sukuk industry for the better, according to a bold new statement by S&P Global Ratings released in October. A microfinance start-up in Indonesia has already taken the plunge with a new ‘Smart Sukuk’

After a slow summer, the UAE’s Sukuk market is gathering momentum – with a plethora of deals emerging or announced over the last month that look set to drive the Emirates into the forefront of the US global Sukuk market and cement

In August 2018, NASDAQ Dubai announced plans to allow retail investors access to its primary Sukuk market – following on the heels of Bursa Malaysia, which made the promise toward the end of 2017. Should this come to pass, a whole new

Love it or hate it, the price of oil is important – not only is it central to global trade and consequently global prosperity, but for many Muslim-majority jurisdictions in the Middle East and Asia, oil is the lifeblood of their economy

Last month saw an unexpected twist in the high-profile Dana Gas case. After well over a year of acrimonious spats between the company and its creditors, an agreement has finally been reached with the majority of its Sukukholders to restructure its US$700

It’s been hard to miss the eco-friendly trend pervading the capital markets recently – and the Islamic space has taken up the green theme with particular alacrity, promoting with enthusiasm the potential crossover between the two disciplines and encouraging social and environmental

It’s been a busy month for the Sukuk sector, and activity around the globe is heating up. We shine a spotlight on some of the most interesting developments of the past four weeks in the Islamic debt capital market – from sovereign

Private equity and venture capital align well with the principles of Islamic finance – so why don’t we hear more about them? The sector can often fly under the radar but in fact, many deals are indeed Shariah compliant especially across the

The Islamic debt capital market had a tremendous year in 2017. While the corporate Sukuk sector continued its steady climb, giant sovereign Sukuk issuances from Malaysia and Saudi Arabia contributed a combined U$48 billion (61%) to the 2017 total, contributing to an

This year has seen the Islamic debt capital market grow from strength to strength, as the continued economic and geopolitical pressures push issuers towards alternative capital sources and mammoth sovereign issuances drive the development of brand new yield curves in a range

It is all very well to throw around facts and figures and generalize about the overall benefits of Islamic issuance – but what about the nitty gritty details? The headlines only ever laud the latest issuance: but how did they get there,

It has been a rollercoaster year for the Sukuk market, with a number of high-profile challenges hitting the market that have perhaps hindered its hitherto smooth upwards trajectory. The Dana Gas controversy has caused inevitable concern among Sukuk investors, while the rift

Now could be the easiest it has ever been to access the Islamic capital market for capital raising purposes – and for corporates unfamiliar with the sector, the path to market is both simple and straightforward. This week, we offer our readers

Islamic financing can apply across any sector, but some industries are peculiarly suited to Shariah compliant structures. Healthcare is an ideal example: with large physical assets, long-term tenors, operational leases, real estate opportunities — and of course, the added bonus of ethical

The strength of the burgeoning Islamic bond market was revealed last month with the latest data demonstrating an increase of almost 40% in the first six months of the year compared to the same period in 2016. With record sovereign issuance levels

Syndicated loans are a highly versatile form of financing that can offer unique advantages over capital market issuance. But in today’s competitive and challenging market landscape, what is the best avenue for corporates to access funds? This month we take a look

The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) is a hugely influential body focused on funding, encouraging and developing private sector activity across its 52 member countries. One of the most instrumental bodies offering support to corporates keen to

Property firms in the Gulf are pouring back into the Islamic debt capital market as they seek to raise capital for their expansion activities amid a strengthening economy and strong demand from investors seeking income-generating returns. From Dubai’s DAMAC to Saudi’s Dar